System and method for analyzing product flow signal for an agricultural implement

Abstract

A system and method are provided for quantifying a degree of discontinuity of material flow from a meter roller. A flowable particulate material is fed into a meter roller rotated at a constant speed while a camera takes pictures or images of the product dispensed from the roller. The images of the product taken by the camera are analyzed to determine the area of the image represented by the product. The areas of product within the images are then compared with one another to determine how continuous the area of product is in the respective frames. The area measurement for each image is calculated at a frame rate for the camera that, when compared to the flute frequency range of the roller, provides a frame per flute ratio that ensures all particles of product dispensed from the roller are captured in an image without overlap of product between frames.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]The invention relates generally to a system and method for measuring material flow rate from a meter roller, and more specifically, to quantifying meter roller flow rate discontinuities as a way to evaluate the performance of a meter roller over a range of operating characteristics and / or products dispensed by the meter roller.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]A range of agricultural implements have been developed and are presently in use for tilling, planting, harvesting, and so forth. Seeders, for example, are commonly towed behind tractors and may cover wide swaths of ground which may be tilled or untilled. Such devices typically open the soil, dispense seeds in the soil opening, and re-close the soil in a single operation. In seeders, seeds are commonly dispensed from bulk seed tanks and distributed to row units by a distribution system. In certain configurations, air carts are towed behind the seeders to deliver a desired flow of seeds to the row un...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach allows for a faster and more accurate evaluation of meter roller performance, enabling the development of designs with enhanced flow characteristics for continuous seed distribution, thereby improving seed distribution uniformity in the field.

Problems solved by technology

However, because typical meter rollers employ a series of flutes and recesses to control the flow of seeds, the flow is generally discontinuous with respect to space and time.

Unfortunately, the discontinuity in seed flow rate from the meter rollers increases the difficulty associated with flow rate measurement and adjustment.

While this prior art method can determine one measure for the continuity of the metering roller, this test method requires a significant amount of time to perform, and does not ideally represent how a meter roller would perform during field operation due to the slow and intermittent operation of the roller, as opposed to the continuous operation of the roller as employed in the field.

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